Lt. Matt Siufanua of the Provo Police Department said the arrest came as a result of an investigation started by a school resource officer, who got a tip that a 14-year-old student was involving younger children in trafficking of marijuana.

“In this case it was a drug trafficking conspiracy between an eighth-grader and some sixth-graders,” Siufanua said.

The eighth-grade student allegedly recruited more than a half-dozen sixth-graders from Franklin Elementary to buy marijuana on his behalf.

“He used them to go to these drug homes,” Siufanua said. “If you’ve never seen a drug house, they’re putrid, and they’re dangerous.”

The sixth graders from Franklin were suspended, and some may face juvenile charges. The 14-year-old was taken to juvenile detention and could face dozens of felony charges, including drug distribution and child endangerment.

Siufanua said they believe the eighth-grader was the ringleader, and the operation was gang related.